This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Bryan - TO - Wright Classification: Military Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/4154 Message Board Post: THE FREMONT COUNTY HERALD. June 1, 1916. "IN MEMORY OF FALLEN HEROES. Memorial Services Held and Soldiers' Graves Appropriately Decorated".-- Memorial day was observed in Sidney in a quiet way. Union memorial services were held last Sunday a 11 a.m. at the Presbyterian church. There was a large attendance, good singing, and an excellent memorial sermon by Rev. M. W. Lorimer.There were 13 (sic) old soldiers present. Tuesday, May 30, was a ideal day. Many people were in town, and quite a number who live in other towns and other states came to place flowers on the graves of relatives. The cemetery is well kept and beautiful.The members of the Grand Army post met at the cemetery at 10 o'clock. They gathered at the grave of Charles C. Hardy, the last old comrade buried here, and held the usual services, conducted by Post Comander R. T. Bryan, Chaplain W. A. Forbes and Officer of the Day, John Hindman. There were just 12 in line: 1. R. T. Bryan 2. S. W. Conwell 3. W. A. Forbes 4. George Gould 5. John Hindman 6. Lewis Love 7. Henry Spittler, Sr. 8. B. F. Stubbs 9. G. R. Thatcher 10. Joseph Wilson 11. Joseph Woodlands 12. James Wright There are four others who live here, who were not present: 13. A. J. Focht 14. John Carter 15. Jerry Thomas 16. M. J. Reed There was no martial music, no fife nor drum. John Hindman was present, but he is bent and old. He cannot carry the big drum any more. We are told the youngest of the 12 is 68 and the oldest four score. They were grouped near the entrance to the cemetery. They waited awhile for the people to arrive. One grizzled old veteran said: "These days ain't like they used to be." There was a pathetic sadness in his tone. Col. Bryan stepped out, saying "Come on, boys. fall in, boys." "Boys? Boys?" said another, "where did Lincoln get his army? We were boys then." The "boys" were bent and gray. Their gait was unsteady and their hands, trembly. Two carried canes. These and a few more like them are all that are left of that grand army of conquerors who 51 years go marched up Pennsylvania avenue in Washington with whoop and hurrah, the veterans of the western army. A German baron had looked on all the other soldiers. Of some he said, "What fine men"; of others "These men can whip the world", but when he saw the boys from the west he cried out: "These men can whip the devil!" Some of the Sidney boys marched through the streets of Washington that day with those invincible veterans, others had been mustered out. Soon they will all be "mustered out". Their last requiem will be sung. In the 60's they were gallant and brave. They were patriots ready to give their lives that the nation might live. And they are immortal. The historian, the orator, the sculptor and the poet will keep their memory green in the hearts of the generations yet to come. In a few more years we shall sing over the grave of the last veteran of the Civil War. "Soldier, rest! thy warfare o'er, Sleep the sleep that knows not waking! Dream of battled fields no more, Days of danger, nights of waking. No rude sounds shall reach thine ear, Armor's clang or war steed champing, Trump nor pilbroch summon here Mustering clan, or squadron tramping. "Soldier, rest! thy race is run, Think not of the rising sun. For at dawning to assail ye Here no bugles sound reveille."